2027-2028 Graduate and Professional Students
Applying for Financial Aid
Investing in your graduate education Graduate and professional students at USC have access to a variety of financial aid and financing options.
how to apply for them. To view or download the brochure, please visit financialaid.usc.edu/gradinvesting.
Our Investing in Your Graduate Education brochure will introduce you to these programs, their eligibility requirements and
We also encourage you to visit financialaid.usc.edu for more information.
How to Apply Apply as soon as possible to ensure timely notification of your financial aid and to be considered for all possible funding. APPLICATION DEADLINES • Graduate and Professional: May 4, 2027 • Keck School of Medicine: April 1, 2027 • Ostrow School of Dentistry: April 1, 2027 Step 1: Complete the FAFSA Complete the 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at studentaid.gov. • Report your 2025 student income. • USC’s Federal School Code is 001328. • Apply as soon as possible after October 1, 2026, but no later than the appropriate deadline above.
Step 2: Complete the Financial Aid Supplement To complete the Financial Aid Supplement online, log in to your Financial Aid Summary and Tasks (FAST) portal at financialaid.usc.edu/fast and follow the instructions provided. You will find the form in the “Document Library.” • This form requires you to indicate the number of academic units in which you plan to enroll in each semester. If you are unsure, contact your academic department before submitting. The units listed on this form must match your actual enrollment for your financial aid to be properly disbursed. • Submit this form no later than the appropriate deadline above.
Step 3: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available regardless of income; eligibility and loan amounts depend on enrollment status. A credit check is not required, although a prior default on a federal student loan will disqualify you from borrowing additional funds. • To apply for an Unsubsidized Loan, complete the Direct Loan Request form found in your FAST portal’s “Document Library.” • You will need to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) online at studentaid.gov. You can check the status of your MPN by logging in to your FAST portal.
• You will not be required to complete a new MPN if you previously borrowed a Direct Loan at another school and your existing MPN is no more than 10 years old. • First-time borrowers of graduate student loans must also complete entrance loan counseling online at usc.igrad.com/courses/entrancecounseling. Step 4: Federal Work-Study* To be considered for Federal Work-Study, students must: • Submit the FAFSA and Financial Aid Supplement by the appropriate deadline on the previous page; • Enroll in 4 or more units for credit per semester; and • Meet a financial need requirement. * Federal Work-Study is not available for students participating in online degree programs.
Step 5: Private Financing • Some graduate and professional students may consider private financing to cover a portion of their remaining cost of attendance. • Interest rates, origination fees and repayment fees for private loan programs vary and are based on the creditworthiness of the borrower and/or coborrower. Graduate students can apply on their own, but may qualify for better rates by applying with a creditworthy co-borrower. • Visit financialaid.usc.edu/loans for additional guidance on choosing and applying for private education loans, including a link to our Preferred Lender List, which can help you compare lenders and their terms. USC does not prefer, recommend, promote, endorse or suggest any particular lenders.
Distance Learning Distance learning and online students should disregard the May deadline for graduates and professional students and apply for aid at least eight weeks before the start of their program, or sooner if possible.
Other Requested Information Respond to any requests for additional information or documents within 10 days. For the fastest processing, submit documents online via your Financial Aid Summary and Tasks (FAST) portal at financialaid.usc.edu/fast.
Costs The following are the 2026-2027 estimated costs for two semesters of enrollment in a full-time (8-14 units per semester)* master’s degree program for a student living in non-university housing but not with parents or relatives (other than a spouse).
Tuition*
$ 50,780
Mandatory fees
$ 2,065
Housing
$ 14,760
Dining/Food
$ 8,442
Books and supplies
$ 900
Personal and miscellaneous
$ 2,016
Transportation
$ 1,188
Total estimated costs
$ 80,151
(Add $55 New Student Fee for your first semester.) *The estimated full-time tuition amount is calculated based on 10 units of study per semester.
Loan Disclosure: Federal Direct Loans issued on or after July 1, 2026, offer access to the Repayment Assistance Program (RAP). Eligibility for these loans is determined by enrollment status rather than income or credit history.
Varying Costs Estimated costs for students in some programs may be higher or lower because of longer or shorter enrollment periods, special laboratory or studio fees, or other additional costs incurred by all students in the program. Some professional schools have different full-time tuition rates and flat-rate unit rules. To view cost of attendance rates for doctoral students or master’s degree students enrolling with less than full-time status, visit the “Graduates & Professionals” section of our website at financialaid.usc.edu.
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